[Vision2020] that Jared guy and mental health

Sat Jan 29 13:29:51 PST 2011

Guns v. mental stability: just to introduce some other considerations:

Who determines who is accursed with the kind of mental illness that is apt to result in being a serious danger to others when armed?  How much accursed does the potential shooter have to be in order to deny the right to bear arms?  What is the reliability of such a diagnosis?

Is a person with severe anger management problems (or as we used to say: has a quick, violent temper) considered to be mentally ill?  A danger a serious danger to others when armed?  How bad would the anger management problem need to be in order to deny the right to bear arms?  Who and how is this decided?

The question of denying constitutional rights, any rights, just not gun ownership rights, on the basis of a mental health diagnoses/problems is seriously complicated one.  There are probably some extreme cases that would seem reasonable, but what about the vast majority of other cases?  Remember that at one time in the USSR, people who expressed anti-government sentiments could be sent to some horrible mental hospitals.

This also relates to the rights of those disabled persons who are called "severely mentally challenged."  Apparently they are not allowed to have sex since in most jurisdictions they are considered to be unable to make a rational enough decision to give permission.  So, in addition to suffering an egregious disability, they are prohibited from enjoying a simple pleasure that would add some positive, rewarding experiences to their lives.

Mental competence/stability as a criterion for denying rights in order to protect society/individuals:  I don't have an answer though I have thought about it a lot.  I suspect there isn't a nice or a legal one that would be acceptable to the majority answer, but I'm open to hearing suggestions.

Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

waf at moscow.com
208 882-7975

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sunil Ramalingam 
  Cc: vision 2020 
  Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 12:33 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] that Jared guy and mental health

  Well then, I don't know what you're trying to say. You seem to be connecting mental health with gun ownership, which I think is reasonable. 

  But you're also saying you don't think people should lose the right to possess firearms.

  But then you do hold a major grudge against ownership of automatic and semi-automatic firearms.

  From what you've written, I don't know where you come down in the end. I too am against the irresponsible use of firearms. How do we make that happen? 

  I think some people should not have the legal right to own firearms. I don't have a problem with the law saying certain felons should not have them, though I want people to have the ability to come back to court and demonstrate they've earned the right again. I think it's reasonable to say that people who are diagnosed with mental illnesses can lose the right to own firearms. So I don't think the right is absolute.

  So that's where I am. I didn't ask the question to make you angry, though your use of capitals at the end of your reply suggests I failed.

  Sunil

  > Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:01:02 -0800
  > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] that Jared guy and mental health
  > From: thansen at moscow.com
  > To: sunilramalingam at hotmail.com
  > CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
  > 
  > Sunil inquired:
  > 
  > "At what point do you propose people should lose the right to possess
  > firearms?"
  > 
  > NEVER, Sunil.
  > 
  > I never have, and never will, even suggested/implied/mumbled that people
  > should be denied their second amendment rights to possess firearms
  > (although I do hold a major grudge against ownership of automatic and
  > semi-alutomatic firearms). However, I do support RESPONSIBLE
  > possession/use of firearms. I don't know how many times i have
  > suggested/encourage/demanded responsible possession/use of firearms.
  > 
  > In this particular instance (Laughner), responsible use of firearms goes
  > hand-in-hand with mental health.
  > 
  > With the proliferation of public access to semi-automatic (in some cases .
  > . . automatic) weapons, coupled with the reduction of health and welfare
  > funding (which includes mental health care) in the state of Idaho, the
  > question is no longer "if" there will be another Laughner, but "when".
  > 
  > I, myself, own a couple shotguns; a Benelli 12-guage pump shotgun, as well
  > as a Savage 410/.22 over-under single shot that my grandfather gave to me
  > as a kid (this gun is ancient).
  > 
  > So, you see, Sunil. I am NOT against ownership of weapons, just the
  > irresponsible possession/use and/or ownership of sutomatic/semi-automatic
  > weapons.
  > 
  > OK?
  > 
  > Tom Hansen
  > Moscow, Idaho
  > 
  > Sidebar, V-peeps: Does anybody know of a good/reliable gunsmith that can
  > help me out?
  > 
  > The Savage 410/.22 has a broken retaining spring that secures the handgrip
  > to the barrel and upper receiver group.
  > 
  > http://www.TomandRodna.com/Rifle.htm
  > 
  > The retaining spring was broken (and lost) about 30 years ago.
  > 
  > 

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